Posted by
Boston Biz on Saturday, October 28, 2006 12:56:35 AM
Please visit http://solumveritas.blogspot.com for a complete blog, video blog, YouTube channel, and video archive from this author.
Most of us, let's assume 89%, know exactly how we are going to vote this November 7th. Ironically, the majority of the country with enough character and discipline to involve themselves in the learning and understanding of the issues at hand, never get to decide to whom the victory goes. In virtually every aspect of life, those with vision enough to prepare for success are the victors and are hereby qualified to receive all the rights and privileges to the spoils thereof. The guy with the MBA hears the echoes of, "Your Hired," ringing in his ears. The athlete who planted himself at the free throw line for 500 shots post-practice receives the glory of the number one draft pick. The overworked senior who popped NoDoz and guzzled Mt. Dew deep into the bondage of night gets the grade. Ah, but to those of us injecting our systems with 1000CCs of Ingraham, Savage, Hannity, and Limbaugh, we are removed from this sane, righteous system of sowing and reaping and are enslaved to the whims of Jay Leno's "Jay Walkers." Those among us who laughingly quote, "Al Gore," when presented with the difficult challenge of naming Mr. Bush's Vice President are the ones for whom the election bells toll. This undecided 11% is the cause, the reason, and the wonder of every race to Washington.
I remain very interested as we approach election day. Daily receptions of up-to-date election coverage saturate my computer, my radio, and my television. For, you see, I care. What began to interest me even more was the day that I finally realized, "I don't care what this ad says. I know who I am voting for based on where these guys stand." Then suddenly, an epiphany so strong I shook at the magnitude of the synapsis; the inmates are running the asylum. We watch as the well-educated, the well-read, the well-spoken, the well-written debate and discuss trends, polls, points, numbers, but the pundits and celebrity hosts and what they believe in are in the hands of the 27 year old burger-flipper playing "Grand Theft Auto" right now as we speak.
Fifty-Six Million strong roll up their blue sleeves, and fifty-six million strong roll up their red sleeves to fight. Yet, the 11% undecided will step in at the last minute licking the potato chip salt off of their remote control blistered fingers just long enough to hang a chad, and they decide the outcome.
One example of sway would be the race card. We know that none of these candidates are racists, yet, millions are spent on an ad to make the illiterate 11% give 2-3% sway away from "the racist" candidate. Another example? Either you want Talent or you want McCaskill, but with the knowledgable already on one side or the other the candidates strain to give one more speech to make the zombie uneducated slowly turn to follow thinking, "I like...Him good". If it just so happens that he licks his chops in your direction on the 7th of November, you win! Campaigns are steaks waved in front of ignorant dogs. Which ever steak looks good for now he'll follow. I sit and watch as political talk show hosts say, "Well, in the next few days we will see how the polls reflect today's speech,' and I gaze in awe wondering how in the world someone can be so out of the loop that one little pep talk or one little attack ad can change how they feel that day. If the undecided 11% were taken out of the picture, campaigns would be about as follows:
"This November, 2008, Republican _____ is running against Democrat _____."
I know who I'm voting for, do you? If your reading this you probably do, but what's the use? That guy in his car at the stop sign in front of your house, yea, the one listening to old cds of the Jerky Boys, he will decide.
I suppose my writing lacks any great discovery of truth. I just stand amazed as we calculate numbers, discuss topics, read articles, follow candidates, study issues, poll the countryside, and watch debates all for those 11% that have no political standing or concern whatsoever. The country is in the hands, not of those with roots, but of those who are swayed by the most minute phrase in a speech or spin in an ad.
Can anyone tell me where I can make a campaign contribution?
Signed,
Boston